Switch actuator



Aug. 8, 1961 c. F. SCHUNEMANN 2,995,042

SWITCH ACTUATOR Filed March 3, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ira 22:5? Car/ F5015111262122 aim 1961 c. F. SCHUNEMANN 2,995,042

SWITCH ACTUATOR Filed March 3, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Carl Fjc'hzmemazzzzz: 1 7 4JZ6MW; MM E 1 1961 c. F. SCHUNEMANN 2,995,042

SWITCH ACTUATOR Filed March 3. 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Eye firm CarlFfic'hun ezzzazm tent Patented Aug. 8, 1961 2,995,042 SWITCH ACTUATQRCarl F. Schunernann, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to Thompson Rania WaoidridgeInc, a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 718,734 Claims.(ill. 74-45) This invention relates to a switching assembly forinterconnecting high frequency transmission structures and to a switchactuating mechanism for selectively moving a switch element into aplurality of switching posit-ions.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a switchactuating system wherein the actuating motor can be brought up to speedbefore actuation of the switch element is initiated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an actuating systemwherein the actuating motor can be stopped after the switch element hasbeen moved to a desired switching position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedshuttle type waveguide switch.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a waveguide switchwherein a switch element is spring urged into its switching positions.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a waveguide switchhaving means for providing a visual indication of the condition of theswitch.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a shuttle type waveguideswitch in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along the lineIIIl of FIGURE 1, and showing parts in top plan;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line1IIIII of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational View of the structure of FIGURE 1 with aportion of the housing broken away to show certain parts in elevation;and

FIGURE 5 is a schematic electric circuit diagram of an indexingarrangement for the switch of FIGURE 1.

As shown on the drawings:

The illustrated embodiment comprises a shuttle type waveguide switchwherein a housing body part has a pair of curved wall portions 10a and19b adapted to define waveguide channels such as indicated at 11 incooperation with curved wall portions 13a and 13b of a shuttle typeswitch element 13. The bottom wall of the channel 11 is defined by afiat surface 100 on which the switch element 13 slides, and a top wallof the channel 11 is defined by a surface 14a of a plate 14- which issuitably sealed to the housing body part 10, as by means of a sealant insealing passages such as indicated at 100! in FIGURE 2. A mounting platefor the housing is indicated at 15. It will be understood that the exactorientation of the switch assembly depends on field conditions, so thatthe orientation of the switch assembly illustrated in the drawings ispurely arbitrary. The name plate is normally afiixed to the housing insuch an orientation that FIGURE 4 would constitute a top plan view ofthe assembly. For purposes of the present description, FIGURE 4 is takenas a side elevational view. The housing is enclosed by means of a plate17 secured to plate 14 by means of screws 18 and gasket 20 and securedto the body part 14 by means of screws 19.

For guiding the reciprocating movement of shuttle switch element, aguide member 21 provides a planar guiding surface 21!: at right anglesto the surface 100 of the body part. The guide member 21 has a pair ofelongated slots 21b and 210 accommodating reciprocating movement of apin 24 which is secured to the shuttle switch element 13. A set screw 26retains the pin 24 in engagement with the element 13 and a lock nut 28and preloaded tension spring washer 29 act on a ball guide 31 to retainthe shuttle element 13 snugly against the wall surface Zia of guidemember 21. To reduce friction, balls such as indicated at 33 areinterposed between the ball guide 31 and guide member 21, and theseballs 33 ride in elongated ball races such as indicated at 21d and 31ain FIGURE 2. Lock nut 28 is adjusted to preload spring washer 2a to85:05 pound loading.

For shifting the shuttle element 13 between its switching positions, ashutle lever 40 is provided having a slot 40a receiving pin 24 as seenin FIGURE 3 and mounted on a lever shaft 42 for rocking movement inrespective opposite directions. The slot 40a has a lost motionconnection with the pin 24 to accommodate linear movement of pin 24during arcuate movement of shuttle lever 40 about shaft 42,. The lever46 has arms 4% and 40a which are coupled to arms 45a and 45b of arocking lever 4-5 also mounted on the lever shaft 42. Compressionsprings =47 and 48 are interposed between the respective arms to thatrocking movement of rocking lever 45 tends to compress one of thesprings to urge the shuttle lever 40 to rock in the same direction.Adjustment screws 51 and 52 have body portions which are externallythreaded over their entire length and are received in threaded holes inarm portions 45a and 45b. The body portions have reduced elongated endportions 51a and 52a extending within the springs 4'7 and 48 and theshoulders at the junctions between the ends of the body portions 51 and52 and the end portions 51a and 52a are of diameter to engage the lowerends of springs 4-7 and 48 so that longitudinal adjustment of the screws51 and 52 in the holes in the arm portions 45a and 45b adjusts thepreloading of the springs 47 and 48. For example, screws 51 and 52 maybe adjusted to load the shuttle 10.5 pounds:4.5 pounds against thecorner blocks 10a and 10b with levers 4t) and 45 in their respectiveextreme positions.

The rocking lever 45 is driven by means of a crank 60 having a roller 61cooperating with an internal cam surface 45c of rocking lever 45. In theillustrated embodiment, the crank 60 is mounted on a shaft 63 forcontinuous rotation in a given direction to rock lever 45 first in onedirection and then in the opposite direction. The lever 45 is rocked inthe counterclockwise direction by engagement of roller 61 with arcuatecam surface portion 45d and is rocked in the clockwise direction byengagement of the roller 61 with the arcuate cam surface portion 45a.The arcuate cam surface portions 45d and 45e may have a radius ofcurvature equal to the distance from the center of shaft 63 to the outersurface of 61 so that the lever 45 will be substantially stationary asroller 61 travels along the arcuate surface portions. Between thearcuate surface portions 45d and 452, the roller 61 engages in grooveportions 45 and 45g.

The crank 69 may have secured thereto at the end thereof opposite thatcarrying roller 61 a curved plate 66 for actuating arms 69 and ofswitches 72 and 73. it will be observed that with roller 61 engagingarcuate cam surface portions 45d to rock lever 45 to its extremecounterclockwise position, curved plate 66 will engage arm 70 to depressan actuating button of switch 73. An energizing circuit for motordriving shaft 63 is controlled by switch 76 so that when switch 73 isactuated by curved plate 66, the energizing circuit is opened todeenergize motor 80. At the same time, actuation of switch 73 maycomplete a dynamic braking circuit for the motor 80 to cause the motorto come to a stop more rapidly. In this way, the motor 80 is stoppedwhile curved plate 66 still engages arm 70.

When motor 80 is energized through a second energizing circuit under thecontrol of switch 72, crank 60 is turned in the clockwise directionuntil curved plate 66 engages actuating arm 69 of switch 72 to depressactuating button 72a thereof and open the second energizing circuit forthe motor 80 and connect a second dynamic braking circuit with saidmotor to bring the motor to a stop while curved switch actuating plate66 is still in engagement with arm 69.

It will be apparent from FIGURE 3 that, with the crank 69 in one stopposition and with the motor stopped, when the motor is energized to movethe shuttle switch element 30 to its opposite switching position, themotor 80 will have a relatively light load during the time when theroller 61 continues to travel along the 'arcuate cam surface portion450? and until the time that crank 60 begins to move rocking lever 45past its central position in the clockwise direction. Similarly, withthe shuttle switch element in its opposite position from that shown indotted outline in FIGURE 2, and with the motor stopped, the motor willbe enabled to start with a relatively light load while the roller 61travels along arcuate cam surface portion 45c and until the crank 60moves lever 45 past its central position in the counterclockwisedirection. Further, after the motor has been deenergized by engagementof the curved plate 66 with one of the arms 69 or 70, the motor has theangular range for overtravel corresponding to the angle subtended by thecurved plate 66. The roller 61 rides on the arcuate cam surface portion450! or 45s during this overtravel deceleration period locking theshuttle switch element 13 in the selected switching position andproviding for lost motion between crank 60 and lever 45*. In otherwords, the motor 81? need not be stopped at the moment that switchshuttle element 13 reaches the selected switching position. Further,during the time that the motor is being brought to a stop, crank 60 andlever 45 are interlocked in such a way as to positively compress one ofthe springs 47 or 48 to urge the shuttle switch element 13 into theselected switching position.

The roller 61 on crank or drive transmission element 60 and the internalcam surface 45c of rocking lever or drive transmission element 45comprise interengaging means arranged to move the rocking lever 45 fromone extreme position to the other as the crank 60 is rotated in a givendirection. It will be observed that the roller 61 while riding on thecam surface 45d locks the rocking lever 45 in its extremecounterclockwise position and while riding on the cam surface 45c lockslever 45 in its extreme clockwise position. Crank 60 is free to rotatewithout actuating the rocking lever 45 as long as roller 61 rides on camsurface 45d or 45c.

It will be understood that the motor 60 may be enclosed in a suitablehousing 82 which is eltectively sealed to the housing body part 19 forexample by means of a gasket 83. A suitable printed circuit indicated at35 may be connected with the motor circuit and with the switches 72 and73 to control operation of the motor. A resistor 88 may be included inthe dynamic braking circuits for the motor previously mentioned andradio frequency noise filters may be housed in a casing 96 indicated inFIG- URE 1.

Indicator lamps may be associated with the housing for the switch andvisible from the exterior thereof to indicate the position of switchshuttle element 13. Switches 95 and 96 indicated in FIGURE 4 may controlthese lamps and may have actuating buttons 95a and 96a which are adaptedto be actuated by adjustable trip members 98 and 99 angularly adjustablysecured by fastening means 101 and 102 to ball guide member 31. Thetrips 98 and 99 are adjusted so that switches 95 and 96 are actuated inthe respective positions of switch element 13.

It will be understood that suitable waveguide terminal fixtures may besecured to the housing at the respective ends of the waveguide channel11, for example, to accommodate the connection of waveguides with theswitch assembly of the present invention.

A suitable electric circuit for the switch of FIGURES 1 to 4 isillustrated in FIGURE 5 and corresponding reference numerals have beenutilized to designate generally corresponding parts. In the illustratedcircuit, the motor is illustrated as comprising a DC. motor having apair of energizing circuits which are selectively nergized by means of aswitch 110. The switches 72 and 73 of FIGURE 3 controlling therespective energizing circuits for the motor 80 are illustrated ascomprising switch arms 112 and 113 which are normally in engagement withcontacts 114 and 115, but which are moved into engagement with contacts118 and 119 when the corresponding switch actuating arms 69 and 70 areengaged by curved plate 66.

With switch arm 11% in the position illustrated, an energizing circuitwould normally extend from battery 122 through contact 110, cont act115, switch arm 113 (when deactuated), lines 124 and 125 to the positiveter minal of the motor, the negative terminal of the motor beinggrounded by means of line 127 to provide a return path to the battery122. It will be understood that when the motor 80 is energized by meansof the energizing circuit just described, crank 69 will be turned curvedplate 66 engages actuating arm 70 of switch 73 to shift arm 113 intoengagement with contact 119 as shown in FIGURE 5. At this time, theenergizing circuit for motor 80 is interrupted. Further, the motor isconnected with a dynamic braking circuit comprising resistor 88 and lead130 leading to ground to shunt resistor 88 across the motor 80.

In the position of switch element 13 shown in FIG- URE 2 in dottedoutline, switch 96 will be actuated to move arm 132 into engagement withcontact 133 to complete an energizing circuit for lamp 135 to indicatethe position of switch shuttle element 13.

If switch am 110 is moved to its opposite position to select the otherswitching position, a second energizing circuit for motor 80 iscompleted extending from battery 122 through contact 2110, contact 114,switch am 112, =1ine 125, and motor 80 to ground line 127. When curvedplate 66 engages actuating arm 69 of switch 72, switch arm 112 makescontact with contact 118 to open the second energizing circuit for themotor and to connect the motor in a second dynamic braking circuitincluding lead 135 and resistor 88.

In this position of switch shuttle 13, switch 95 is actuated to moveswitch arm 137 into engagement with contact 138 and thus light lamp 140indicating the opposite position of the switch.

Summary of operation In order to actuate the switch mechanism of theillustrated embodiment to move shuttle switch element 13 to its oppositeswitching position from that shown in dotted outline in FIGURE 2,voltage is supplied to contact 141 in FIGURE 5 in any suitable manner asby shifting switch arm 110 to its left hand position. Motor 80 is thenenergized to rotate crank 60, FIGURE 3, in a clockwise direction. Duringstarting of the motor, roller 61 on crank arm 60 rides on constantradius arcuate cam surface portion 45d and encounters relatively littleresistance to movement. The roller 61 then rides into recess 45g androcks lever 45 in the clockwise direction compressing spring 47 andreleasing the compression of spring 48. This causes shuttle lever 40 torock in the clockwise direction about shaft 4-2 moving pin 24, FIGURES 1and 3, to the right as seen in FIGURE 3 to move switch element 13,FIGURE 2, to its opposite. switchingposition. After switch element 13has reached its switching position, motor 80 continues to be energizeduntil curved actuanng plate 612 engages switch actuating arm 69 ofswitch 72 causing switch arm 112, FIGURE 5, to disengage contact 114 andengage contact 118. Engagement of contact 118 connects a dynamic brakingcircuit including resistor 88 across the motor 80 to cause the motor tocome to a stop while curved actuating plate 66 is still in engagementwith arm 70. Switch 73 is deactuated when curved plate 66 moves out ofengagement with actuating arm 70, causing switch arm 113, FIGURE 5,

to move into engagement with contact 115. Thus, when switch element 13has reached its opposite switching position, it may be returned to theswitching position shown in dotted outline in FIGURE 2 by applyingvoltage to contacs 142 in FIGURE 5. The illustrated actuating mechanismthus accommodates lost motion between the motor drive shaft and theswitch element at the time the motor is being started up, and alsoprovides lost motion between the motor shaft and the switch elementafter the switch element has reached its switching position toaccommodate stopping of the motor after the switch element has reachedits selected switching position. Crank 60 locks the switch element inits selected switching position :after deenergization of the motor, andresilient means in the form of spring 47 or 48 is provided forresiliently urging the switch element into its selected switchingposition.

It will be apparent that many modifications and variations may beeffected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of thepresent invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A switch assembly comprising a switch element movable between a firstswitching position and a second switching position, rocking lever meansmounted on a fixed axis for rocking movement between a first angularposition and a second angular position to move said switch element fromsaid first switching position thereof to said second switching positionthereof, said rocking lever means having an internal cam surfaceincluding opposite constant radius arcuate cam surface portions, rockinglever drive means mounted for rotary movement about an axis within theperimeter of said internal cam surface and engageable with said camsurface to rock said rocking lever means between said first and secondangular positions thereof, and said constant radius cam surface portionaccommodating angular movement of said drive means while said rockingiever means is stationary in said first and second angular positionsthereof.

2. A switch assembly comprising a switch element mounted forreciprocation between first and second switching positions, shuttlelever means having a lost motion coupling with said switch element andmounted for rocking movement to shift said switch element between saidfirst and second switching positions, said shuttle lever means havingarm means projecting at either side thereof, rocking lever means mountedfor rocking movement and having arm means projecting at either sidethereof and opposing the respective arm means of said shuttle levermeans, compression spring means interposed between the respective armmeans of said shuttle lever means and said locking lever means to tendto cause the shuttle lever means to follow rocking movements of saidrocking lever means, said rocking lever means having an internal camsurface operatively connected therewith, rocking lever drive meansmounted for rotary movement about an axis within the perimeter of saidinternal cam surface and engageable with said cam surface to rock saidrocking lever means in respective opposite directions, said cam surfaceaccommodating angular movement of said drive means with said rockinglever means in opposite extreme angular positions, and means forrotating said rocking lever drive means to shift said switch elementbetwen its first and second switching positions.

3. A switch assembly comprising a switch element mounted forreciprocation between first and second switching positions, shuttlelever means having a lost motion coupling with said switch element andmounted for rocking movement to shift said switch element between saidfirst and second switching positions, said shuttle lever means havingarm means projecting at either side thereof, rocking lever means mountedfor rocking movement and having arm means projecting at either sidethereof and opposing the respective arm means of said shuttle levermeans, compression spring means interposed between the respective armmeans of said shuttle lever means and said locking lever means to tendto cause the shuttle lever means to follow rocking movements of saidrocking lever means, said rocking lever means having an internal camsurface operatively connected therewith, rocking lever drive meansmounted for rotary movement about an axis within the perimeter of saidinternal cam surface and engageable with said cam surface to rock saidrocking lever means in respective opposite directions, said cam surfaceaccommodating angular movement of said drive means with said rockinglever means in opposite extreme angular positions, means for rotatingsaid rocking lever drive means to shift said switch element between itsfirst and second switching positions, said rocking lever drive meanscarrying a curved plate of substantial arcuate extent, and switch meansfor deenergizing said drive means and engageable with said curved plateas said rocking lever means reaches one of said opposite extreme angularpositions to initiate deceleration of said drive means, and said curvedplate having sufiicient arcuate extent to maintain engagement with saidswitch means until said drive means has come to a stop with said rockinglever means in said one extreme angular position.

4. A switch assembly comprising a switch element mounted forreciprocation between first and second switching positions, shuttlelever means having a lost motion coupling with said switch element andmounted for rocking movement to shift said switch element between saidfirst and second switching positions, said shuttle lever means havingarm means projecting at either side thereof, rocking lever means mountedfor rocking movement and having arm means projecting at either sidethereof and opposing the respective arm means of said shuttle levermeans, compression spring means interposed between the respective armmeans of said shuttle lever means and said locking lever means to tendto cause the shuttle lever means to follow rocking movements of saidrocking lever means, said rocking lever means having an internal camsurface operatively connected therewith, rocking lever drive meansmounted for rotary movement about an axis within the perimeter of saidinternal cam surface and engageable with said cam surface to rock saidrocking lever means in respective opposite directions, said cam surfaceaccommodating angular movement of said drive means with said rockinglever means in opposite extreme angular positions, means for rotatingsaid rocking lever drive means to shift said switch element between itsfirst and second switching positions, a first housing part housing saidrocking lever means and having a shaft pivotally mounting said rockinglever means in depending relation therefrom and pivotally mounting saidshuttle lever means in upwardly extending relation therefrom, and secondhousing means having a downwardly opening slot for receiving saidshuttle lever means and accommodating coupling of the shuttle levermeans with said switch element.

5. In a switch assembly; a switch element; a switching member coupled tosaid element and movable between first and second positions to move saidswitch element between first and second switching positions; a drivemember mounted for rotation about a fixed axis; a drive motor coupled tosaid drive member; inter engaging cam means on said members including acam element on one member and cam surface means on the other forinterengagement to move said switching member between said first andsecond positions when said drive member is rotated about said fixed axisby said drive motor between first and second stop positions; said camsurface means being concentric to said fixed axis for a continuousangular distance along said cam surface means which includes the pointof engagement of said cam element with said cam surface means when saiddrive member is in its first stop position and in a substantial numberof successively otfset first angular positions beyond its first stopposition through which said drive member is accelerated in movementthereof by said drive motor to said second stop position, and whichincludes the point of engagement of said cam element with said camsurface means when said drive member is in its second stop position andin a substantial number of successively offset second angular positionsbeyond its second stop position through which said drive member isaccelerated in movement thereof by said drive motor to said first stopposition; means for energizing said drive motor to accelerate said drivemember from any one of its stop positions and to rotate said drivemember through the successively offset angular positions therebeyondduring which said cam element engages said concentric cam surf-ace meansand said switching member and switch element remain stationary, andthereafter to drive said switching member through the medium of saiddrive member and said interengaging References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 865,999 Coombs Sept. 17, 1907 874,289 BemusDec. 17, 1907 1,563,305 Ambler Nov. 24, 1925 1,609,292 Burch Dec. 7,1926 1,791,819 Kull et a1. Feb. 10, 1931 1,814,608 Schuh et al. July 14,1931 2,229,545 Beckstrom Jan. 21, 1941 2,661,404 Wasserman Dec. 1, 19532,696,568 Jepson Dec. 7, 1954 2,813,937 Diebold Nov. 19, 1957 2,827,613Robison et al Mar. 18, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 363,855 Great Britain Dec.31, 1931

